Loose-leaf binder



Oct. 14 '1924. V

' S. M. WAGAMAN LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Avril 20. 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Oct. 14, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE.

SAMUEL 'M. WAG-AMAN, OF HAGERSTOWN, MARYLAND.

LOOSE-LEAF B ND R. I

Application filed April 20, 1921. Serial No. 462,840.

Binders, of which the following is a specifi- V cation. v

This invention relates to a loose leaf binder, and the main object thereof is to provide novel cooperating leaf-holding components having such arrangement and shape that the leaves will be given a convex and concave assemblage contour, respectively, at the back and front edgessimilar to the fixed bound leaves ofordinary ,books. A further object of the invention is .to pro-- vide simple leaf-holding components on whichthe leaves may be readily applied and positively retained in close or compact arrangement, and from which the leaves may be easily and quickly removed for replacement or readjustment. A further object of the invention is to provide a 2 binder having loose leaf retaining components to and from which the leaves may be applied or removed at both the front and back portions of the binder to permit leaves to be applied or removed 7 relatively to the rear'half 'or section of the group of assembled leaves fully to an intermediate point, without requiring displacement of the front half or section of the leaves. Astill further object of the invention is to generally improve loose leaf binders to conveniently facilitate the application and removal of individual leaves, the parts of the binder, and particularly the leaf-retaining components, being strong and durable and having a novel form of fastening means for holding the leaves thereon in assembled relation. 1

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the 45 preferred construction and arrangement of the several parts which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings forms of the improved loose leaf binder organization 5 are embodied to'illustrate a practical assemblage of 'parts involving the features of the invention, but capable of change in the general proportions and contours as well as in the number of the several components to adapt the latter to various applications.

In the drawings: 1

Fig. 1' is a perspective view'of a portion of a binder, showing one of the backs open and embodying the features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 22, Fig. '1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 8' 3,'Fi'g. 1.-

Fig. 4 is a perspective 'view of a portion of the binder, showing parts thereof re} leased.

Fig. 5 is a section Jon the line 5-5, 1.

Figs. 6' and 7 are detail perspective views of the leaf-engaging posts and securing components therefor. V

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of a portion of the binder, showing a modification in the construction of a part of-the components.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 5,"showing a further modification, "and "whereby "the leaves may beapplied and'removed at both )7 the front and back portions of the binder. r Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical section on the line 10-10, Fig. 9

Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical the line 11-11, Fig. 9.

section on "The numerals 5 and 6 respectively represent the covers of the binder connectedby a fleXi'bl-e'back 7, tlie'covers 5 and Gadjacent to the flexible back 7 having attaching strips 8 and 9 secured thereto and formed with in wardly projecting dloubled leaf-attaching members 10, one on each, which are continuous With a curved back support .11 which is free of the flexible back '7 and engaged by the group 12 of loose leaves when the latter are assembled in thebinder, as shown in the drawings and particularly by Figs. 1,

2 and 3. The leaf-attaching member 10 of the strip 8' is provided with perforations 13 located near theop-posite ends of saidmember to coincidewith the outermost adjacent their free ends, which notches are engaged by an elongated spring locking strip 19 of the form shown detail in 6, the spring locking strip 19 having elongated openings adjacentits ends, of which openings the end walls nearest the ends of the strip 19 are-preferably curved, as at 22, and the opposite end walls are preferably straight, as at 21. However, said end walls maybe of any other shapewhich is adapted for the same purpose. The spring strip 19 is of a thickness slightly less than the width of the notches 18, so that the straight avails 21 at the inner ends of the openings 2 11 3; enter the notches 18 and the spring looking strip 19 be thereby retained in engagement with the ends of the posts 16, particularly in view of the spring tension exerted by said strip 19. The strip 19 is renersible and may be disengaged from the notches 18 of the posts 16 by flexing the strip 19 at the center. This locking strip 19 vconstitutes a very simple form of posiztive locking .means, and, when this strip is to }be vapplied, the leaf-attaching member '10 projecting from the front cover 5 is brought over, so that the openings 13 therein will receive the adjacent ends of the posts 16. The notched ends of the posts 16 areeansed .to project through the front attaching ,,,s:tliip 10 far enough to expose the notches, and the spring locking strip 19 is then applied, as shown in Fig. 1, to firmly and positively hold the loose leaves 12 between the covers 5 and .6. It will be under- StQ d that in the form of the binder shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the loose leaves 12 are all applied .over the posts 16, and when .a predetermined number of the loose leaves hare-been ,applied to .the posts 16, the lockingst ip 19 is fitted to the slots 18 of the posts 16. The locking strip 19 may be readily removed by drawing the center thereof outwardly, and thereby moving the opposite extremities of the said strip longitudianally toward one another a sufiicient'distanee .to release the transversely straight walls 21 of the openings 20 in the locking strip 19 from the notches 18. When the do king strip .19 i d ache th t ing member 10 is disengaged from the ends of the posts 16, and, likewise, the fly leaves 515 and any-number pf the loose leaves 12 may then {be withdrawn from, or other similar leaves applied on, the posts 16, if the gf l l .eapacity of the binder has not been reached. V

'llhe improved binder also includes interniediate transfer posts 23, which extend throngh the front fly leaf 15 and are se- (in-red thereto veither by rectangular washer strips 24: individually applied to the ends of these transfer posts, as shown in Fig. 7, or by circular washers 25, shown in Fig. 8, the-ends of the posts 23 being swaged upon the washers-24; or 25. The ends of the posts oppesite those engaged by the washers 24: or 25 are free and inserted through open- 1 ings 26 of all of the loose leaves 12 in'the.

form of the binder shown in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive. When the spring locking strip 19 is detached from the posts 16, all of the leaves may be removed from the latter Without disengaging the posts 23 from said leaves, and by this means all of the leaves.

may be held assembled in the full group thereof. When the leaves 12 are app-lied.

to the posts 16 and havethe posts 23 extending therethrough, as shown'loy Fig, 5,.

the said posts 23 operate to reinforoefrear edges .of the leaves intermediate their ends and to preserve the group of associated or assembled leaves in the desired assemblage.

In the modified form of the device shown in Figs. 9, 10 and ll the retaining posts 1 6 have both the front and rear ends thereof formed with notches 18 and 18 respectively, and arran ed for engagement,

espec y, by a 1 -i g tr p 1min similar strip 19 bothlocking strips :19 -,and

19 in this modified structure operating'in the ame m nn r a th rip 19 he et re described. In the modified structure the transfer posts 23 are shown as intermedi- 1 ately divided to form sections 27 28 secured, respectively, ,at their outer ends by washers 241, similar to those heretofore .de-

scribed, against the fly leaves 15. The in- The transfer posts and the mod fied 7 form thereof comprisin the sections 27 end posts .1 6, all .of the posts having a .convegi trend towards the flexible backv 7 which neots the vcovers 5 and .6 vand the eoncave id t d th f o .Q- fin edss 9f the leaves. Bzy curving all pf the posts speck lied, the rear convex and front concave sociation of the edges of the leaves is ob- ,tained and preserved by reason of the rigidity of the posts. The curvature of the posts is also of material advantage when opening and closing'theloose leaves .of the binder as a whole .in preventing tear ng .28 are curved similarly to the retaining strain on the attachedor .post engagedrear edge portions of the glooseleaves, and, ,moreover,the cu ved posts c-ausethe loose leaves, when the binder'is opened, to assume proper relative positions. By forming the ;.intermediate transfer posts in sections, .as shown by Figs. .9 and 11, and .h vingt iere aining posts 16 engaged at oppositeends by, .QQk-- ng strips of a similar character for release 'a loose 'le'affor another previously temporarily bound by the improved device. This makes itpossible toeasily introduce leaves bearing modified or corrected matter relating to the same or relative subjects at the proper place in the group of leaves.

The front and rear fly leaves, to one of which the transfer posts 23 shown in the form of the invention disclosed by Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, are attached, and to which the sections 27 and 28 of the divided transfer post 23 shown in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, are, respectively, secured, may be of any preferred stock and are free of the covers 5 and 6 and the strips 10, and said fly leaves may be of any suitable thickness or material adapted for the purpose.

It has been found thatheavy paper stock practicably answeis the purpose of these fly leaves, yet at times it may be desirable to use a fabric or composite form of fly leaf having sufficient body to hold and operatively support the transfer posts in either form shown and hereinbefore described. 1 To give the front attaching strip 10 sufficient rigidity and wearingdurability, especially in view of the openings 13 formed therein, it has a metal strip 10 inserted between the folds thereof and extending throughout. a portion of the length of the same, said metal' strip 10 having openings "therethrough avhich registering with the openings 13. In

some instances, however, this metal strip 10 may be omitted where a stock is used having sufficient thickness and wearing resistance to prevent tearing or fraying of the walls-of the openings 13. ,The strip 10 is similar in structure and dimensions to the strip .17 to which the posts 16 are shown as secured at their rear ends in Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive.

From the foregoing the operation of the binder will be readily understood. The detachment of the spring locking strip 19, or both of the strips 19 and 19?, maybe readily accomplished to permit placement or withdrawal of the loose leaves, the fly leaves 15, either individually or jointly, may be quickly and readily removed from their applied positions, a-ndin the form of the binder shown in Figs. 1' to 8, inclusive, the front fly leaf 15 maybe withdrawn and replaced simultaneously with the posts 23.

Similarly, where divided transfer posts such asthose shown at 23* in Figs. 9 to 11, inclusive, are employed, the fly leaves may be simultaneously withdrawn and replaced with the sections 27 and. 28 of the latter posts. It will be understood, however, that the user of the binder may use his own judgment as to how the leaves are to be inserted and removed in order to arriveatthe result sought with the greatest convenience and to the best advantage, in view of the fact that a number of different courses maybe pursuedin operating the'several parts.

What is claimed as new is;

posed betweenthe covers and adapted to enter openings in a plurality of leaves, said transfer posts beingcomposed of separable sections to permit a part of said leaves-to be removed and be held bya part of said sections with the remaining leaves remaining.

ise 1. A loose leaf binder havingv frontfand rear covers, retamin'g and transferposts dis intact uponv said retaining posts and the other post sections, and locking means separably engagmg the ends of the retaining posts.

2. A loose leaf binder havingfront andtermediate transfer posts between the covers, and resilient locking strips separably engaging the opposite ends of the retainin posts. 7

4. A loose leaf binder having front and rear covers, rigid curved retaining posts, in-' termediate rigid curved transfer posts composed of separable sections, the posts being disposed between the covers, and resilient locking strips separably engaging the op-- posite ends of the retaining posts;

5. A loose leaf binder having frontand'.

rear covers with a flexible back connection,

attaching stripssecured to the covers and in part projecting inwardly from the latter,

rigid curved retaining posts associated and cooperating with the attaching strips, rigid curved intermediate transferposts free of said attaching strips, loose leaves" through which the posts are inserted, and locking h means separably engaging the ends of the retaining posts.

.6. A loose leaf binder having front and rear covers with a flexible back connection, attaching strips secured to the covers and projecting inwardly from'the latter, rigid curved retaining posts associated and 00 operating with the attaching strips, rigid curved intermediate transfer posts free of said attaching strip, fly leaves free of the said attaching strips with which the intermediate posts areassociated, loose leaves between the fly leaves through which the retaining-and intermediate posts are inserted, and looking means separably engaging the ends of the retaining posts.

' 7. A loose leaf binder comprising enclosing covers, retainingand trasfer posts to reoeive a plurality of loose leaves, said transfer posts being composed of complemental sections individually removable atrthe front and rear of the binder to permit loose leaves to be applied to and removed from said retaining posts at different parts of the :assemblage of leaves Without disturbing the remainder :of said leaves, and means to secure .sai'd retaining posts against movement and for removably holding the leaves .on the and transfer posts.

8. A oose leaf binder comprising covers and retaining and transfer posts located between said covers for .e'nga:gement with .a group of loose leaves, each transfer closely associated separable members, and said retaining posts comprising provided at their opposite terminals at the, i

front and atithe rear of the gIEQTtFPDf leaves;

carried thereby with means forholdmgy-wid group of leaves intact and for permittingm.

portion of said transfer aposts 1a 1161- tion of said group 'o-frleaves gearried to be removed from For be applied "to -neinainder of said group of {lenses either aat the front or at the bank of the complete;

group of leaves.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 

